ISLAMABAD, June 28 (APP): Pakistan and France today reaffirmed
their commitment to work closely on matters pertaining to enhancing
bilateral cooperation specifically in the area of security and
immigration.

The commitment was reiterated during the meeting of the
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan with French ambassador
Ms. Martine Dorance, when the latter called on him here on Tuesday,
said a press release issued here.

“A Joint Working Group of Pakistan and France should work on matters pertaining to speedy sharing of intelligence and information, resolving immigration issues, cementing cooperation in the areas security, counter-terrorism, terrorism financing and curbing the movement of terrorists,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar was quoted as saying by the spokesman for the ministry of interior.

Terming the existing level of cooperation between Pakistan and France as satisfactory, the Interior Minister said that cooperation mainly in the field of security and capacity building of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) was quintessential for fighting war against terrorism and militant mindset. “The more world gets together against terrorism, and extremism the more it will benefit,” remarked the Interior Minister.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan has already signed a Convention on Cooperation this year with the French government for a training program of LEAs.

The Convention between Pakistan and France spreading over three year is aimed at training of the LEAs. The cooperation with budget of 1.35 million euro covers training of Pakistani LEAs in forged documents, forensics, investigation, cyber crime, improvised explosive devices, and civil defence.

The French law enforcement personals would impart training to their counterparts in Pakistan under this cooperation.

Commenting on the issue of deportees the Interior Minister observed that robust mechanism is already in place with precise SOPs and rules to deal with issues of human smuggling and movement of illegal migrants.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan informed the French ambassador that Pakistani investigation agencies are actively
involved in curbing the menace of human trafficking and the campaign
against human smuggling has yielded positive result.

The French ambassador Ms. Martine Dorance while acknowledging
the efforts being made against human trafficking and counter
terrorism measures, reassured the Interior Minister of all possible
support in this regard.

She maintained that French government would adhere to Pakistani immigration laws while deporting any illegal migrant from the French soil back to Pakistan.